Question: I have an AR pistol and wanted to add a angled fore grip like the one pictured here:

Is it legal? I've ben told it makes the pistol an AOW (any other weapon).

Is there some sort of consensus for this?

I have seen it argued both ways....

Like you said, It can be argued either way. And being a ruling from a gov't agency, it could be interpreted either way at any time. I personally would not go around with one like that at a public range, or keep it like that when transporting it where I could be stopped and have to argue the interpretation with some knucklehead know it all LE. I'd put it on for practice and shooting at a private range if I wanted to use it.

Like you said, It can be argued either way. And being a ruling from a gov't agency, it could be interpreted either way at any time. I personally would not go around with one like that at a public range, or keep it like that when transporting it where I could be stopped and have to argue the interpretation with some knucklehead know it all LE. I'd put it on for practice and shooting at a private range if I wanted to use it.

If it can be argued either way then the law isn't written correctly--hint: it can't be argued either way.

There's a BATFE letter out there with the ruling on this...if you're gonna shoot something that you think could be regulated as an NFA item, do the research or actually talk to your local BATFE agent and just ask them. Also, while you were careful to not put your serial # in these pics, be careful posting on the Internet if you think a particular configuration might be illegal...or if your pistol is actually built on a lower receiver that was registered as a rifle (mine are all registered as "other" on the form 4473 when they were transferred).

If you have an illegal config, Baldy and Co. could possibly get in trouble for letting it be posted just the same as if you put up kiddy pron pics. Well, maybe not that bad but they'll be asked questions they don't need to spend time on.

I wont give opinions on legality's, but I have been given a couple of pieces of advice over the years that are on point.
When you have this long story on why your particular configuration is legal..ask yourself..how will it sound in court?
To 12 people who have probably never shot anything.

The other was given to me by a atf agent. Get it in writing. They do this all the time as a course of business. Remember just because they gave you the nod over the phone means nothing. They are just slobs going to a job like the rest of us.
Gary

I wont give opinions on legality's, but I have been given a couple of pieces of advice over the years that are on point.
When you have this long story on why your particular configuration is legal..ask yourself..how will it sound in court?
To 12 people who have probably never shot anything.

The other was given to me by a atf agent. Get it in writing. They do this all the time as a course of business. Remember just because they gave you the nod over the phone means nothing. They are just slobs going to a job like the rest of us.
Gary

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Does anyone know if the Great dumbass state of Illinois will allow someone to get a tax stamp and own a SBR? I have read it both ways and the latest I have found is that as of sometime in 2011 a tax stamp can be bought but none of my local dealers have the slightest clue on what a SBR even is. I know that class 3 is out of the question so no can for me, but a 10.5 noveske upper would be cool on one of my AR's.

Does anyone know if the Great dumbass state of Illinois will allow someone to get a tax stamp and own a SBR? I have read it both ways and the latest I have found is that as of sometime in 2011 a tax stamp can be bought but none of my local dealers have the slightest clue on what a SBR even is. I know that class 3 is out of the question so no can for me, but a 10.5 noveske upper would be cool on one of my AR's.

If you create a firearms trust, you can get the tax stamp by going around the chief leo signature with the trust.
Now whether Illinois allows it or not is another question.

Does anyone know if the Great dumbass state of Illinois will allow someone to get a tax stamp and own a SBR? I have read it both ways and the latest I have found is that as of sometime in 2011 a tax stamp can be bought but none of my local dealers have the slightest clue on what a SBR even is. I know that class 3 is out of the question so no can for me, but a 10.5 noveske upper would be cool on one of my AR's.

Yes, as of Jan. 2013 anyone with a C&R FFL can go through the process and obtain a tax stamp for an SBR.

You can visit the link in my sig line and get a lot more info on it. The gent that is IL NRA lobbyist frequents there and he helped write the bill for SBR.

Good news! Went to Columbia, SC yesterday. Strong rumor that they had AR lowers available IF you get there early.
Got to the store 20 minutes before opening, 10 people in line
By 10 am, had to be about 40!

Doors open and I figure we would all just file inside in the order we had queued up. Nope. ASSHOLE stampede like Black Friday at Walmart. WTF??!

Most went to the rifle counter. Complete basic ARs for $800. I think there we 20 available. I went to the next counter for stripped lowers. Maybe 50 available at $120 each. I got two. I figure my first build will be a 223 for hog hunting. The other was claimed by SWMBO, prolly do a .22 drop in conversion. Or maybe a stamp for a SBR with a suppressor. First build, so I will be slowly gathering parts as I find them/ can afford them. Would consider trading one for a AR10 build in .308 though

Any parts suggestions??? Guidance for the noob? (reading AR15.com a lot already)

Also, in the line of people getting lowers. 2 per person per day. Yup, Husband and Wife, both getting their allotment. Over heard Her say to Him. "How many more days are we going to stand in this $%%& line every morning? Haven't you sold enough of these lowers?"
Probably the same one who has these SAME lowers on Armslist SC for $250 EACH